Bay Path University

12 Bay Pathway Winter 2015 Just in the first decade alone, the word 'change' would become normal. As a result of Dr. Leary's personal magnetism and stimu- lating leadership, people came to expect that it was not business- as-usual, but rather a 'how do we make it happen' philosophy that guided the College. By the dawn of the century, the One-Day-A-Week Saturday program for adult women had been launched to huge success, and graduate degrees would already be in the planning stages. Soon, additional campuses would emerge across the state in Sturbridge and Burlington, MA becoming sites for the One-Day and growing graduate programs. New undergraduate majors in disciplines such as forensic science and biotechnology, areas unheard of even a decade ago, were added to the curriculum. The number of graduate programs increased and included such diverse degrees as Master of Occupational Therapy, MS in Cybersecurity Management, MS in Leadership and Negotiation, MS in Physician Assistant Studies, MS in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy, and the MFA in Creative Nonfiction, among others. The athletic and wellness programs were expanded and Bay Path was officially recog- nized as a NCAA Division III member. The south campus and the athletic fields were added to the campus footprint. There was massive investment into the technology infrastructure to keep pace with the rapid changes in communication and learning. And probably no building on campus remained untouched to renovation—the Blake Student Commons, Carr Hall Science Laboratories, and Mills Theatre are only a few examples of the metamorphosis occurring within the boundaries of Bay Path. The recently opened Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center, not only places us in neighboring East Longmeadow, MA, but was also built for growth in graduate programs in the health sciences. At Bay Path, change is good. There was one thing that did not change: Bay Path's efforts to empower women to meet their potential. Since becoming a women-only institution, Bay Path has been a member of the Women's College Coalition, and has never wavered in its commitment to single-sex undergraduate education. Early in her Presidency, Dr. Leary encouraged the development of the Women's Leadership Conference, a mainstay in the greater region. It was important that women develop a sense of community and pride, and have opportunities for n e t w o r k i n g . Year after year, the Conference has sold out, and in 2015, it will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Lectures with world-class leaders such as Dame and Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher put Bay Path on the map. Finally, the Women as Empowered Learners and Leaders (WELL) program was developed and integrated into the undergraduate program for traditional and adult women. WELL, in particular, builds on a tradition begun in the 1940s of educating the whole woman, preparing her for whatever happens in her life and career. For Dr. Leary, this is her true passion, and with the establishment of The American Women's College Online, this mission is now accessible to millions of women throughout the country. All of these efforts lay the foundation to a future that must meet a constantly changing world. Bay Path is fortunate that our history has welcomed and responded to change. People on campus have often stated that it is "...part of our DNA." When the discussions and then the decision to change from Bay Path College to Bay Path University was finally made, the community embraced "the next evolution." After all, the past is what brought Bay Path to this point. In so many ways the College was already operating as a university by granting graduate degrees, having a national online presence, and offering multiple site locations for our programs. It was time…and in 2014 Bay Path College became Bay Path University. The next chapter has begun. Bay Path has never wavered in its commitment to single-sex undergraduate education and its efforts to empower women to meet their potential.

• Cover